I'm sorry to hear about your emergency surgery and the stress of managing everything with four young children! The good news is that many people here have already confirmed your husband can absolutely get PFL to care for you after surgery. I wanted to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - when filling out the application, make sure your husband selects "caring for a seriously ill family member" as the reason for leave, not "own serious health condition." I've seen people accidentally select the wrong category which can cause delays or denials. Also, since this involves both your recovery AND caring for your children (ages 2-10), the medical certification should emphasize that you cannot perform your normal caregiving duties. With a 2-year-old especially, your inability to lift, carry, or chase after them is a significant care need that justifies your husband's leave. The 60-70% wage replacement might feel like a big cut, but having him home to handle everything while you recover properly is so much better than trying to rush back to normal activities too soon. Emergency gallbladder surgery is serious and you really do need that full recovery time! Best of luck with the application process and hoping for a smooth recovery!

I'm a PFL specialist and wanted to jump in with some additional guidance since you're dealing with such a time-sensitive situation. Your husband absolutely qualifies for PFL to care for you - emergency gallbladder surgery with 4-6 weeks of bed rest definitely meets the "seriously ill family member" criteria. Here's what I'd recommend for fastest processing: 1. Apply TODAY online at SDI Online - don't wait for the doctor visit tomorrow 2. Use the temporary disability section to start the claim, then add the medical certification when you get it 3. Make sure your surgeon includes specific language like "patient requires assistance with activities of daily living and cannot provide childcare due to post-surgical restrictions" The 7-day waiting period starts from his first day of leave, not from application date. Benefits are typically 60-70% of his wages (max $1,540/week currently), and with emergency surgery, approval often comes in 10-14 days if everything's complete. One crucial tip - have him coordinate with HR about CFRA (California Family Rights Act) for job protection alongside the PFL application. This ensures his position is protected while he's caring for you. With 4 kids including a toddler, this is exactly what the program exists for. You're smart to act quickly rather than trying to manage alone!

Hey Alberto! Don't worry, you're definitely not alone in being confused by EDD's communication - their letters are notoriously vague! A determination is basically their official decision about your claim. It could mean they've approved your benefits, calculated your weekly amount, or resolved some verification issue. The key thing is that getting a determination usually means progress, not problems! I'd definitely recommend checking your EDD online account first - look for sections like "Messages," "Claim Details," or "Determination" where they usually put way more specific info than what they mail you. If you still need clarification after checking online, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they first open - that timing seems to work best for getting through. Don't stress too much though - this is totally normal and everyone finds their system confusing at first. Let us know what you discover when you check your online portal! 😊

Hey Alberto! I totally understand your confusion - EDD's determination letters are like reading hieroglyphics sometimes! 😅 A determination is basically EDD's official decision about your claim - could be about eligibility, benefit amount, or just clearing up some routine paperwork issue. The frustrating part is their letters never give you the full picture! Here's what helped me when I was in your shoes: definitely log into your EDD online account and check the "Inbox" or "Claim Status" sections - there's usually way more detailed info there than what they send in the mail. If you're still confused after that, try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they open (seems to be the magic time for actually getting through). Don't panic though - getting a determination is actually a good sign that they're actively processing your case rather than it sitting in limbo somewhere. The whole EDD system is confusing by design I think, but you'll figure it out! Keep us posted on what you find - we're all rooting for you! 🙌

I'm in a similar situation right now - filed my PFL claim about 4 weeks ago and just got my Notice of Computation this week. Still no payment though! The waiting is killing me because I really need this money to help with my mom's care. I've been trying to call but can barely get through. Has anyone had success with calling at specific times of day? I heard early morning might be better but not sure if that's true. Also wondering if the Notice of Computation means we're basically approved and it's just a matter of waiting for payment processing? Would love to know what others have experienced with timing after getting that notice!

Going through something similar right now! I filed my PFL claim about 5 weeks ago and just received my Notice of Computation last week. Still waiting on the actual payment to come through. The financial stress is real when you're already dealing with family issues that require the leave in the first place. I've been checking the online portal obsessively but it just shows "claim processed" without giving a clear timeline for payment. One thing I learned from calling (took me 47 tries to get through!) is that the Notice of Computation basically means your claim is approved and they've calculated your weekly benefit amount. The rep told me payments typically start 2-4 weeks after that notice, depending on their processing backlog. She also mentioned that if you don't see payment by week 6 total from your initial filing, definitely call back. Hang in there - we're all in this frustrating waiting game together! 💪

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! 😫 Filed my PFL claim after SDI ended and got denied because they think my employer is paying full wages when they're actually just supplementing to bring me to 100%. I also marked "yes" with "other" but it seems like they completely ignored that part. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though - sounds like this is a super common problem with their system. I'm going to try the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow with a detailed HR letter ready. @Oliver Becker @Cameron Black @Kelsey Chin your step-by-step advice is incredibly helpful! It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops for what should be a straightforward situation, but at least there's a clear path forward. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! 🙏

Wow, reading through all these experiences is both frustrating and reassuring! 😅 I'm actually going through a very similar situation right now - my PFL claim got denied for the exact same reason even though I clearly marked "other" for the employer wage question. It's crazy how many people are dealing with this same system glitch! I've been trying to get through on the phone for over a week with no luck, but all the advice here about calling at exactly 8:00 AM is gold. Definitely going to try that tomorrow. Also planning to get that detailed HR letter everyone's mentioning - the "supplemental vs replacement" language distinction seems to be key. Has anyone tried the appeals process if the phone calls don't work out? Just wondering if that's another avenue to explore. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in this mess! 🙏

I'm so sorry your family is going through this difficult time. As someone who recently navigated PFL for my own family situation, I want to reassure you that your husband absolutely qualifies for Paid Family Leave to care for your hospitalized daughter. The fact that he's splitting his time between providing direct care at the hospital and managing childcare at home actually strengthens his case - this shows he's an essential part of your daughter's care team. When he applies using form DE2508F, make sure to document both his hospital visits and how the family caregiving responsibilities have been divided between you two. One tip: when the doctor completes the medical certification, ask them to be specific about why your daughter needs family support during her recovery. Phrases like "requires assistance with daily activities" or "benefits from family emotional support during hospitalization" can help establish the medical necessity. Also, don't let his HR department's misinformation delay the application. PFL has covered family caregiving since 2004 - it's definitely not just for new parents! The sooner he applies, the sooner you'll have some financial relief during this stressful time.

I'm so glad you found all this information helpful! Your family's situation really highlights how important PFL is for real caregiving emergencies like this. One additional tip that might help: when your husband submits his claim, he should include a brief written statement explaining the care arrangement - something like "I provide direct care to my hospitalized adult daughter during evening visits while alternating childcare responsibilities with my spouse to ensure continuous family support during her recovery." This helps EDD understand the full scope of his caregiving role. Also, if your daughter's condition requires ongoing care after discharge, the doctor can extend the PFL certification. Many people don't realize that PFL can continue even after the initial hospitalization if she still needs family assistance during recovery at home. Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery and hoping the PFL application process goes smoothly for your family. Don't hesitate to keep pushing back against any misinformation from his employer - you have the law on your side here.